The Labor enquirer., 1887-10-29

alienable righfs. nj - = = r
system which 0DG1 T. ~
fellow creature1lur lIo| q
iis natural oppoftnn1
thusfllIing the Iand Nh D
and bringing about - - ~ X
tion, which tends 70 Eo16o6 IL - 1(6t
tion rates and TO nalEe ~ J1
the industrial dave ofthGGo ~ III d l
BY his toll Ss y y y,
Holding, moreover:s ~ ~ II -
arising nom social growth ~ ll6 lt
belong to society e laxgo, ~ ~ ~ -
cent inventions a. TIE rnilTaod ~ TnQh
means for the oppsen1ion e - ~ -
the aggrandisemsnt a a ox1u1 ~ q
wealth and power. 5 Il, s y. z
We declare the tguepuEpooo Gf fn<GG1mouo
TO be the maintenaneo ofthAt m9gD1 SiGl1 q
property which gives % oveey> - opQpe11'
nifty 70 employ his labor a1d scouE1ly ~ II
shall enjoy It's fruits; % pssveat ~ e(soao
from depressing the weak ard ~ pnoeRupu-
lous from robbing the honest an1lp ~ ~
the equal beneft Of al such thin0D .: can b
better done by Organised socloey thn4 by IN
dividuals; and We aim q the aboli11oa q ~
laws which give to any claas * eltlsonsan a.
vantage, either judicial, ananelal, in1uslSiAl
or political, that are not equally ahassa By
all others.
We call upon all who seek the emancipation
oflabor and who would male ths American
Union and Its component statss demoosatie
commonwealth Of really me- and independ-
ent citizens, to ignore Al minor dlnsrsncea
and join with rs In orgAnisins : great M
tional paaty on this broa4 plat1bEm Of nat
ural right and equal justice.
We do not aim ct securing any forced
equality in the distributien OF Wsalsh. We
do not propose that the state shall at$emptto
control production. conduct distzibution. OF
in anywise interfere with the equal rights Of
others. Nor do we propose that the state
shall take possession Of land and either work
1t or rent It out.
What we propose Is not the disturbing OF
any man in his holding or title, but BY abol-
ishing alltaxes on industry or it products
TO leave to the producer the full fruits Of his
exertion, and by taxation Of land values 70
the exclusion Improvements, to devote to
the common use those values which, arising
not from exertion Of the individual, but nom
growth Of society, belong to the community
as whole. This increased taxation Of land,
not according to its area, but according to it,
value, must, while relieving working farmers
and small homestead owners Of the undue
burdens now imposed upon them, make it
Improbable to hold land for speculation, and
thus throw open abundant opportunities for
the employment Of labor and the building up
of homes.
While thus simplifying government. by
doing away with horde Of oficials required
by the present system Of taxntion, with its
incentives TO fraud and corruption. we would
further promote hecommon veal and fur
ther secure equal rights ofall by placing un.
der public control such agencies e. are In
their nature monopolies. We would have
our municipalities supply their inhabitants
with water, light and heat; we would have
the general government issue all money with
out the Intervention Of banks; wewouldadd
apostal telegraph system and postal savings
banks to the postal service, and would as
sumo epublic control and ownership Of those
iron roads which have become highways OF
modern commerce.
While declaring the foregoing to be the fun
damental principles and aims Of the United
Labor Party, and while conscious that no re-
form can give effectual and permanent relief
10 laH,r that does not involve legal recogni-
tion az equal rights to natural opportunities,
we nevertheless, as measures Of relief from
some OF the evil effects Of ignoring those
rights, favor such legislation e. may tend to
reduce the hours of labor, to prevent employ
ment of children Of tender years, to avoid
competition Of convict labor with honest in
dustry, to secure sanitary inspection Of tene-
ments, factories and mines, and to put an
end to the abuse ofthe conspiracy laws.
We desire also to simplify The procedure Of
our courts, and diminish the expenses Of 10
gal proceedings, that the poor may be placed
on an equality with the rich, and the long
delays which now result in such scandaloua
miscarriages Of justice may be prevented
and since the ballot Ia the only means by
which, in our republic, the redress Of political
and social grievances is to be sought, we
especially and emphatically declare for the
adoption of what is known as the "Austra
liam system of voting" in order that the
effectual secrecy Of the ballot and the reliel
ofcandidates for public oflices nom the heavy
expenses now imposed upon them may pre-.
vent bribery and intimidation, do away with
the practical discrimination In favor of the
rich and the INSCRIPTIONS. and lessen the
pernicious influence Of money in politics.
In support Of these aimswesolicit the CO
operation Of all patriotic citizens who, sici
Ofthe degradation Of politics, desure by con
stitutional methods to establish Justice, Il
preserve liberty, to extend the spirit offrater
nifty, and to elevate humanity.
PLATFORM OF THE PROGRESSIVE
LABOR PARTY.
At a meeting held in Webster
Hall, New York, September 8
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